Staff Report
From the Office of Senator Cam Ward
MONTGOMERY – The Alabama Senate passed legislation Thursday that will increase efficiency in the management and maintenance of state-owned vehicles.
Senate Bill 57, sponsored by Senator Cam Ward (R-Alabaster) establishes the Office of Fleet Management within the Department of Transportation to manage the purchase, lease, operation, maintenance and disposal of all state-owned motor vehicles. Currently the Office of Fleet Management is housed within the Department of Finance and each state agency has discretion on maintenance schedules and sale and resale of the vehicle.
Ward’s legislation establishes a streamlined, statewide program to ensure the most efficient methods of managing state vehicles. It is also coupled with an Executive Order recently signed by Governor Robert Bentley to outline the implementation of the new fleet management program.
Ward said the Alabama Department of Transportation is a model in fleet management and hopes to see a savings of $10 million to $20 million over the next five years through the new program.
“Alabama currently has no uniformity in managing state vehicles, with each state agency essentially managing their own,” Ward said. “This policy will help bring Alabama’s vehicle management into the 21st Century. I appreciate Governor Bentley’s leadership on this effort that will generate an enormous savings for state government.”
Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh praised Governor Bentley and Ward for working to save taxpayer resources.
“Working together with Governor Bentley, this Legislature has put a sharp focus on cutting costs and prioritizing our limited resources,” Marsh said. “No stone has been left unturned as we have looked at all aspects of state spending, and this is yet another example in a long list of accomplishments in our efforts to give taxpayers a more efficient, fiscally responsible state government.”
SB57 now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.
